A Brief Summary of U.S. Farm Program Provisions

This publication began as a need for a short summary of farm programs and farm bills for two agricultural economics courses focusing on agricultural policy -- ag. economics 429, and ag. economics 614. Over time, it became clear that many students taking these courses had less and less background in agriculture and less (even cursory) knowledge of policies than those of the recent past. After this list was developed, a number of other professional agricultural economists found copies and began to use it, hence its publication in a more structured form. The list of Farm Program Provisions is not all-inclusive. It certainly does not contain all the laws and provisions that have affected agriculture over the years. However, it is an easy reference to farm bills and provisions since 1933. We intend to update this list as time goes on to continue its usefulness to professionals and students alike.